Compositions for activating an inorganic peroxide bleaching agent

ABSTRACT

A composition for activating an inorganic peroxide bleaching agent comprising (A) an acetic acid ester of a monosaccharide, a disaccharide, a sugar alcohol, an internal anhydride of a sugar alcohol, or erythritol, said ester having at least 2 ester groups on the adjacent carbon atoms, and (B) an acetic acid ester of a polyhydric alcohol having a melting point not higher than about 30*C., the weight ratio of the components being within the range of from 1/9 to 9/1.

United States Patent Nakagawa et a1.

[451 Aug. 26, 1975 COMPOSITIONS FOR ACTIVATING AN INORGANIC PEROXIDE BLEACHING AGENT Inventors:

Assignee:

Filed:

Appl. No.:

Yunosuke Nakagawa, Koshigaya; Koitsu Sato; Shori Hakozaki, both of Funabashi, all of Japan Kao Soap Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan Sept. 7, 1973 Foreign Application Priority Data Sept. 14, 1972 Japan 1. 47-92265 [1.8. CI. 252/186; 8/111; 252/99; 260/610 A; 260/610 R Int. Cl. ..C1ID 7/54;C11D 7/18 Field of Search 252/186, 99; 8/111; 260/610 A, 610 R References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Vireen et a1 252/186 3,211,658 10/1965 Hirtz et a1 252/117 3,338,839 8/1967 MacKellar et al. 7. 252/186 3,650,962 3/1972 Werdehausen et a1, 252/186 3,661,789 5/l972 Corey cl 3.]. 1. 252/186 3,840,466 8/1974 Gray 252/186 Primtiry Examiner-Benjamin R. Padgett Assistant Examinerlrwin Gluck Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Woodhams, Blanchard and Flynn 5 7 ABSTRACT 7 Claims, No Drawings COMPOSITIONS FOR ACTIVATING AN INORGANIC PEROXIDE BLEACHING AGENT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to an activating composition for intensifying the bleaching activity of an inorganic peroxide bleaching agent at low temperatures.

2. Description of the Prior Art When an inorganic peroxide bleaching agent such as sodium perborate is used by itself at a high temperature, such as 80C. or above, it exhibits a very high bleaching activity. But at a low temperature. such as 40C. or below, its bleaching effect is extremely low. Accordingly, various studies have heretofore been made on so-called activating agents for intensifying the bleaching effect of such inorganic peroxide bleaching agents at low temperatures.

Because the waste liquors from the bleaching treatment steps are discarded without further treatment, it is desired that such activating agents be readily biologically decomposable. It is also desired that they be nonpoisonous.

As conventional activating agents meeting these re quirements, there can be mentioned acetic acid esters of sugars and sugar alcohols. In these acetic acid esters, a sufficient effect cannot be obtained by partially ester ified compounds, and hence, all of the hydroxyl groups should be esterified with acetic acid.

However, since such completely esterified compounds have a very low water solubility, when the washing is conducted at a low temperature (for instance, 20C.) for a short time (for instance, minutes), a sufficient bleaching effect cannot be obtained.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION We have found, unexpectedly in view of the prior art, that when an acetic acid ester of a polyhydric alcohol having a melting point not higher than about 30C. is added to an acetic acid ester of a sugar or sugar alcohol, not only is the water solubility increased but also the activating effect is greatly enhanced.

This invention provides a composition for activating an inorganic peroxide bleaching agent which consists essentially of (A) an acetic acid ester of a monosaccharide, a disaccharide, a sugar alcohol, an internal anhydride of a sugar alcohol, or erythritol, and mixtures thereof. said ester having at least 2 ester groups on the adjacent carbon atoms, and (B) an acetic acid ester of a polyhydric alcohol having a melting point not higher than 30C., the weight ratio of A:B being within the range of from l:9 to 9:l, preferably 1:3 to 3:1, espe cially about l:l.

Acetic acid esters of monosaccharides, disaccharides, sugar alcohols, internal anhydrides of sugar alcohols and erythritol employed in this invention include acetic acid esters of hexoses such as glucose, mannose, galactose and fructose; pentoses such as arabinose and xylose', disaccharides such as sucrose, lactose and maltose', hexitols such as sorbitol and mannitol; internal anhydrides of hexitols, i.e., hexitan, such as sorbitan and mannitan; pentitols such as xylitol and arabitol', internal anhydrides of pentitols, i.e., pentitans, such as xylitan; and the like. These acetic acid esters should have at least 2 ester groups on adjacent carbon atoms and they can be up to 100% esterified.

Specific examples of such acetic acid esters are glucose pentacetate, glucose tetracetate, fructose pentacetate, sucrose octacetate, sorbitol hexacetate, sorbitan tetracetate, mannitol hexacetate, mannitan tetracetate, xylitol pentacetate, xylitan triacetate and erythritol tetracetate.

Acetic acid esters of polyhydric alcohols having a melting point not higher than 30C., which are used in the composition of this invention, include acetic acid esters of ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, butylene glycol, glycerin and diglycerin.

It is preferred that these esters have a degree of esterification of Glycerine triacetate, i.e., triacetin, and ethylene glycol diacetate are especially preferred, because they have an activity of activating an inorganic peroxide bleaching agent.

Tetracetyl ethylenediamine is an activating agent of low water solubility, like the acetic acid esters of sugars and sugar alcohols employed in this invention. But in this case of tetracetyl ethylenediamine, an improved effect cannot be obtained by mixing it with, for example, triacetin. The specific synergistic effects of 1 improving the water solubility and (2) enhancing the activating property, that characterize the composition of this invention, can be attained only by employing a combination of an acetic acid ester of a sugar or sugar alcohol etc. as set forth above and an acetic acid ester of a polyhydric alcohol having a melting point not higher than 30C.

The activating composition of this invention can be directly added to a bleaching liquor containing an inorganic peroxide, or it can be incorporated in advance into an inorganic peroxide bleaching agent. In the latter case, the composition can be kneaded with a granulating agent such as polyethylene glycol 6000 and formed into granules having flowability. The composition may further comprise surfactants such as anionic surfac tants, non-ionic surfactants and amphoteric surfactants, neutral inorganic salts such as sodium sulfate, alkaline inorganic salts such as sodium tripolyphosphate, heavy metal chelating agents such as sodium nitrilotriacetate, redeposition-preventive agents such as carboxymethyl cellulose, perfumes, fluorescent dyes, and the like.

Inorganic peroxide bleaching agents to which the composition of this invention can be applied are sub stances capable of releasing hydrogen peroxide in an aqueous solution. Examples of such bleaching agents are hydrogen peroxide, sodium perborate, sodium percarbonate, sodium peroxypyrophosphate and sodium peroxysilicate.

The mixing ratio of the activating composition of this invention to the inorganic peroxide is within the range of from l/9 to 9/1 on the weight basis. When the bleaching agent is used at a low temperature for a short time, it is preferred that the proportion of the activating composition is increased. It is also preferred that when the bleaching agent is used at a relatively high temperature for a long time, the proportion of the activating composition is reduced.

This invention will now be further described by refer ence to the following illustrative examples, in which all references to parts and percent are on a weight basis.

EXAMPLE I The activating agents listed in the following Table l ere respectively added in an amount of 0.5 part to parts of a aqueous solution of sodium perboate. The state of dissolution of the activating agent was xamined after the mixture had been allowed to stand till at 20C. for 1 minute. Then a bleaching test was onducted at 20C. for minutes. The results oblined are shown in the following Table 1.

The bleaching test was carried out as follows: Three )i1ed cloths for the bleaching test (cloth of 10 cm X 7 m soiled with tea) were put into a Terg-O-Tometer nd subjected to rotating agitation at 100 rpm, at C )r 10 minutes. The cloths were then rinsed with city ater, air-dried and ironed.

The effectiveness of compositions was determined by leasuring the reflectivities of the cloths before and fter the treatment.

Bleaching Force: The bleaching force is expressed in :rms of the value of reflectivity of bleached cloth) (reflectivity of untreated cloth)).

hibits a synergistic effect, whereas ethylene glycol diac etate is ineffective when combined with tetracetylethylene diamine.

EXAMPLE 3 sodium perborate parts sodium tripolyphosphatc 15 parts sodium carbonate 10 parts sodium metasilicate 2 parts sodium laurylsulfate 5 parts sodium sulfate 3 parts above activating composition parts Table 1 Run No. Activating Agent (weight ratio) Form of Activating Dissolving State Bleaching Force Agent After 1 Minute 1 control) glucose pentacetate/triacetin powder suspended 12.8

( 100/0) (powder not dis solved) 2 glucose pentacetate/triacetin powder slightly suspended 15.0

(75/25) (powder mostly dissolved) 3 glucose pentacetate/triacetin powder substantially dis- 18.6

(50/50) solved (powder almost entirely dis solved) 4 glucose pentacetate/triacetin paste completely dis 13.2

(25/75) solved 5 glucose pentacetate/triacetin liquid completely dis- 10.6 control) (0/100) solved 6 not added 21 control) EXAMPLE 2 In each test, 0.5 part of an activating agent listed in e following Table 2 was added to 100 parts of a caching agent aqueous solution containing 1.0% of dium percarbonate, 0.05% of sodium dodecylbennesulfonate and 1.0% of sodium tripolyphosphate. 1e bleaching test was conducted in the same manner in Example 1 and the results shown in the following ible 2 were obtained.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. An activating agent composition for activating an inorganic peroxide bleaching agent, consisting essentially of A. acetic acid ester of a substance selected from the group consisting of a monosaccharide, a disaccha- From the above results, it is seen that a mixture of rbitol hexacctate and ethylene glycol diacetate ex ride, a sugar alcohol, an internal anhydride of a sugar alcohol, erythritol and mixtures thereof, said ester having at least two ester groups on adjacent carbon atoms of said substance, and

B. acetic acid ester of polyhydric alcohol having a melting point not higher than about 30C, the weight ratio of A18 being from 1:9 to 9:1.

2. A composition according to claim 1, in which ingredient A is an acetic acid ester of substance selected from the group consisting of glucose, mannose, galactose, fructose, arabinose, xylose, sucrose, lactose, maltose, sorbitol, mannitol, sorbitan, mannitan, xylitol, arabitol, and xylitan and mixtures thereof.

3. A composition according to claim 1, in which ingredient A is selected from the group consisting of glucose pentacetate, glucose tetracetate, fructose pentacetate, sucrose octacetate, sorbitol hexacetate, sorbitan tetracetate, mannitol hexacetate, mannitan tetracetate, xylitol pentacetate, xylitan triacetate and erythritol tetracetate.

4. A composition according to claim 1, in which in gredient B is an acetic acid ester of polyhydric alcohol selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, butylene glycol, glycerin and diglycerin.

5. A composition according to claim 1, in which ingredient B is selected from the group consisting of triacetin and ethylene glycol diacetate.

6. A bleaching composition comprising (1) an inorganic peroxide bleaching agent capable of releasing hydrogen peroxide in an aqueous solution, and (2) an activating agent composition as defined in claim 1, in which the weight ratio of l ):(2) is from 1:9 to 9:1.

7. A bleaching composition according to claim 6, in which ingredient l) is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen peroxide, sodium perborate, sodium percarbonate, sodium peroxypyrophosphate and sodium peroxysilicate. 

1. AN ACTIVATING AGENT COMPOSITION FOR ACTIVATING AN INORGANIC PEROXIDE BLEACHING AGENT, CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF A. ACETIC ACID ESTER OF A SUBSTANCE SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF A MONOSACCHARIDE, A DISACCHARIDE, A SUGAR ALCOHOL, AN INTERNAL ANHYDRIDE OF A SUGAR ALCOHOL, ERYTHRITOL AND MIXTURES THEREOF, SAID ESTER HAVING AT LEAST TWO ESTER GROUPS ON ADJACENT CARBON ATOMS OF SAID SUBSTANCE. AND B. ACETIC ACID POLYHYDRIC ALCOHOL HAVING A MELTING POINT NOT HIGHER THAN ABOUT 30*C, THE WEIGHT RATIO OF A:B BEING FROM 1:9 TO 9:1.
 2. A composition according to claim 1, in which ingredient A is an acetic acid ester of substance selected from the group consisting of glucose, mannose, galactose, fructose, arabinose, xylose, sucrose, lactose, maltose, sorbitol, mannitol, sorbitan, mannitan, xylitol, arabitol, and xylitan and mixtures thereof.
 3. A composition according to claim 1, in which ingredient A is selected from the group consisting of glucose pentacetate, glucose tetracetate, fructose pentacetate, sucrose octacetate, sorbitol hexacetate, sorbitan tetracetate, mannitol hexacetate, mannitan tetracetate, xylitol pentacetate, xylitan triacetate and erythritol tetracetate.
 4. A composition according to claim 1, in which ingredient B is an acetic acid ester of polyhydric alcohol selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, butylene glycol, glycerin and diglycerin.
 5. A composition according to claim 1, in which ingredient B is selected from the group consisting of triacetin and ethylene glycol diacetate.
 6. A bleaching composition comprising (1) an inorganic peroxide bleaching agent capable of releasing hydrogen peroxide in an aqueous solution, and (2) an activating agent composition as defined in claim 1, in which the weight ratio of (1):(2) is from 1:9 to 9:1.
 7. A bleaching composition according to claim 6, in which ingredient (1) is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen peroxide, sodium perborate, sodium percarbonate, sodium peroxypyrophosphate and sodium peroxysilicate. 